TP427 - The Case for Failing Faster to Address Disruption

Healthcare operates under the mindset that failure is not an option—but what if that’s actually slowing down innovation? While tech companies embrace rapid iteration, health systems often get stuck in pilot purgatory, unable to scale promising initiatives. In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore why failing faster—when done smartly—is key to keeping pace with disruption.

They dive into:

Why Healthcare Resists "Fail Fast" Thinking – How risk aversion, compliance hurdles, and leadership discomfort prevent innovation.

Lessons from Other Industries – How Google, Amazon, and pharma companies use structured experimentation to accelerate growth.

How Tech Enables Smart Experimentation – Using AI, predictive modeling, and digital sandboxes to minimize risk while maximizing learning.

Making the Case for Leadership Buy-In – How framing failing fast as an ROI strategy can help organizations embrace iterative improvements.

Later in the episode, they are joined by Alan Shoebridge, who shares his insights on industry disruption, external threats, and why health systems must rethink their approach to change.
In 2025, standing still isn’t safe—healthcare must learn to fail fast, fail smart, and fail forward.

Mentions from the show: 

Failing Fast: Does It Apply to Health Care?

Why Failing Fast Means Failing Forward

AI, Data, and the Art of Failing Fast in Healthcare Innovation

Amazon, CVS Health Follow Their Learn-Fast, Fail-Fast Models

Alan Shoebridge on LinkedIn

Reed Smith on LinkedIn

Chris Boyer on LinkedIn

Chris Boyer website

Chris Boyer on BlueSky

Reed Smith on BlueSky

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices